Activities at Ashlar House Care Home

This evening, our residents, families, and friends came together for a safe and sparkling Guy Fawkes celebration.

We swapped loud fireworks for the gentle glow and nostalgic smell of sparklers, cosy chats, and mugs of creamy hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and mini marshmallows. The twinkling lights and joyful laughter brought back fond childhood memories for many, filling the night with smiles and stories. 

After all the sparkling fun, we warmed up with our delicious hot chocolate while Alexa played some favourite tunes to keep the evening cosy and full of cheer. 

The warmth, laughter, and togetherness made the night truly magical. 

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and helped create such a special atmosphere!

Our Pyjamas Party was a truly magical moonlit evening for our residents at Ashlar House. The atmosphere was filled with cuddles, smiles, and laughter from start to finish. Our wonderful entertainer, Pete, arrived in his knighthood gown, bringing joy, humour, and plenty of fun to the night.

The evening reminded us just how important these special moments are. One of the highlights came when a resident began to sing along to an unfamiliar song, their voice clear and beautiful, filling the room with warmth and emotion.

It was lovely to see everyone cosy in their nightwear, sharing hugs, laughter, and cheerful chatter. As the evening wound down, residents enjoyed their 8 pm warm drinks, still smiling and humming their favourite tunes before settling into bed hearts full and spirits high. 

At Ashlar House, we always love to celebrate our residents’ birthdays, whether in a big way or with a small, casual gathering.

Every birthday is a special occasion to show how much we care and to make our residents feel valued and appreciated.

These moments bring joy, laughter, and a sense of togetherness to our home, reminding us that every day is worth celebrating when we’re among friends.     

It’s the thirtieth of sweet September,
A day we’ll always now remember—
Dear Joyce, today you turn ninety-five,
And joy and love are so alive!

The residents smile, the families cheer,
All gathered close to celebrate here.
The bubble’s chilled, Flavia stands near,
Ready to pop it and start the cheer!

Cakes and sweets in every hand,
Laughter echoing through the band.
Live music plays with joyful grace,
As memories dance across your face.

A special song, our voices blend,
With love that time will never end.
“For you,” we sang, “if you were the only girl,”
You’d still be the light that lit our world.

So here’s to you so full of grace,
With warmth and kindness on your face.
Happy 95th, dear Joyce, today
We’re blessed you came our way.

Residents and families at Ashlar House came together to celebrate the changing season with a cosy afternoon of music and community. 

The highlight of the event was a live performance by Alex Southgate, who serenaded everyone with smooth, easy jazz classics from the 1950s. A wonderful way to welcome the fall season!   

These playful pups made their way through the lounges and residents’ rooms, spreading joy wherever they went. Their wagging tails and cheerful energy filled the home with laughter, smiles, and warmth it was truly a heart-warming afternoon for everyone. Even our carers couldn’t resist their charm and puppy eyes, enjoying a few much-needed cuddles too! 

We’re so grateful for the happiness and comfort our therapy pets bring each month. Their visits fill our home with love, companionship, and cheer. 

Our home is beautifully decorated for Halloween, with festive pumpkin displays and spooky touches throughout!

Join in the tailored activities we’ve planned for the week, from pumpkin decorating and the “Oompah On-Demand Quiz” to relaxing adult colouring sessions.

All Halloween-themed fun will continue until Friday morning, as part of our Life Enrichment Programme with Tracy.

Let’s celebrate the spooky season together!  

As we move into the 10th month of our weekly Health & Fitness sessions with Glynn, we’re proud to highlight the consistent progress being made across the group. Following a recent round of visual assessments, Glynn observed noticeable improvements, particularly among those who initially faced challenges with mobility and physical strength.

Many participants who began their journey with limited movement or confidence are now showing remarkable dedication and control. Their resilience, commitment, and willingness to push beyond perceived limits continue to inspire both peers and staff alike.

“It’s been incredible to watch the transformation. Some of our most physically limited participants are now among the most engaged and focused on the room. It shows what’s possible with the right mindset and support.” Glynn, Health & Fitness Lead.

These sessions are more than just physical activity—they’re building confidence, independence, and a strong sense of community. We’re excited to continue this journey together, step by step, rep by rep.

Ashlar House Care Home proudly hosted a special “Art in care homes” event, celebrating the transformative power of the arts to uplift, connect, and inspire individuals in care settings.

The event featured a stunning exhibition presented by Knightsbridge Fine Art, with the esteemed Phillipa as our guest, and was further honoured by the presence of our town mayor, Janet Whitehouse. The showcased artwork served as a moving reminder of how deeply art can enrich lives, especially within our care community.

Art has a unique way of resonating across all stages of life. Even individuals with limited cognitive capacity can engage meaningfully through gentle and accessible forms like water-based painting and aqua art offering them both emotional expression and a sense of calm. This inclusive celebration underscores the universal reach of creativity, and we are proud to share the beautiful pieces created by our residents in a community display at our home.

Benefit: Events like these nurture emotional well-being, spark meaningful connections, and celebrate the creative spirit that lives within everyone regardless of age or ability.  

As winter settles in, our residents are wrapped in warm blankets, cosy and content. To lift everyone’s spirits, our monthly morning room entertainment brings joy, music, and laughter. The session starts with gentle, relaxing tunes and gradually builds to high-energy beats that have everyone clapping, smiling, and even singing along! The room fills with a fun, light-hearted atmosphere, a little bit crazy, a lot of fun.

It was lovely to hear during a recent 1-1 that staff popped in to enjoy the entertainment too. One team member even stayed and joined in while doing their laundry rounds, showing how these moments truly bring everyone together!

We’ve been celebrating this spooky season in our own peculiar way, still rocking the hats and keeping the pumpkins alive. Our menagerie of animals, scaly, slithery, and tickly, are sure to amaze and excite everyone who visits, especially with our recent ZooLab visit! The ZooLab brought in some fascinating creatures that had everyone in awe, from creepy crawlers to incredible reptiles, making the afternoon full of fun and learning. It was the perfect touch to our Halloween festivities! But amid all the Halloween fun, we gathered together staff, residents, and families to bid a bittersweet goodbye to someone very special, our dear Flavia. There were definitely tears in our eyes and hugs all around as we said farewell. 

And for those who couldn’t be with us in person, including our dedicated night staff and others who were off duty, we all came together through Zoom to share the moment, laughter, and a few more tears.

Here is a message from your team ...

Flavia,

Well, well, well… look who’s moving on to bigger and better things! From Deputy Manager at Ashlar House to Registered Manager, you’ve always been destined for greatness. And now, you’re stepping into another Barchester Home. If Ashlar House was a cosy, welcoming home, you’re now heading to a mansion that double the staff, double the residents, and probably double the paperwork (but we all know you’ll handle it with your usual calm and grace, right? You’ve shown time and time again that you can turn a crazy shift into a smooth day. Now, you’ll be doing it on a much larger scale, affecting not just the residents, but the entire team you’ll lead.

Your reputation here at Ashlar House is second to none. You made every resident feel like family, supported the staff with genuine care, and kept everything running smoothly, making it look easy, even when it wasn’t. People are still talking about it! We’re all wondering if you secretly had a personal assistant or some kind of magical clone to handle it all. We will miss you more than words can say, Flavia. Don’t forget about us little people back here at Ashlar House. We’ll still be here, probably sneaking snacks through the fire exit, but we’ll always think of you as our inspiration. And we’ll forever cherish the memories of the hugs, the tears, and even the Zoom goodbyes. 

Ashlar House was full of excitement and energy as residents and families came together for a wonderful afternoon of live entertainment. Everyone was thrilled to see Paul return, taking them back in time to the golden 1950s with his fantastic Elvis performance. 

The atmosphere was amazing — there was laughter, singing, and dancing everywhere as residents and families joined in, enjoying a fun and memorable afternoon together.

We recently celebrated one of the most heart-warming days of the year, Grandparents Day, and what a joyful afternoon it was! Our home was filled with smiles, music, and multi-generational magic as residents, their families, and plenty of excited grandchildren came together to share in the fun.

Live Entertainment & Delicious Nibbles. From the moment the music started, the atmosphere was electric! There was live entertainment that had everyone clapping along and enjoying the show — including our residents who loved being serenaded. We served a delicious spread of nibbles and light refreshments, with a splash of wine for the adults to enjoy as they caught up and relaxed.

Fun for the little ones. The grandchildren had a fantastic time, with toys and games set up all around. Some shared a sweet tea party with their nan or grandad, while others went head-to-head in a lively game of Snakes and Ladders — lots of laughs and friendly competition included! To make the day even more special, each child received a bundle of fun stickers to take home. The sticker-covered smiles said it all! 

Storytime with a Special Message. We also took a moment to share The Barchester Book Story, a thoughtful, child-friendly book that gently explains why a loved one may be living in a care home. It was a touching way to encourage understanding and spark meaningful conversations between generations.

A Day to Remember, Grandparents Day reminded us all just how precious time with family truly is. Whether it was laughter over a board game, cuddles during storytime, or simply holding hands while listening to music, the love in the room was undeniable. Thank you to all the families who joined us and helped create such a memorable day. Here’s to many more moments that celebrate the incredible bond between generations. 

In celebration of the National Day of Arts in Care Homes, residents were invited to attend a special virtual session led by Holly from the V&A Learning team, alongside designer-artist Rafin Jannat.

The session focused on Indian miniature paintings and the artists featured in the South Asia Gallery at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Residents explored the rich traditions of Indian art through storytelling, visuals, and hands-on activities. Some took part in colouring intricate designs inspired by miniature paintings, while others relaxed and listened.

As part of the experience, residents enjoyed warming cups of masala tea and took time to appreciate the vibrant textiles and detailed patterns found in Indian art — including examples beautifully displayed on traditional footwear.

It was a calming and culturally enriching event that brought the beauty of South Asian heritage into the care home setting.

To celebrate the end of the week and promote wellbeing, residents were invited to dip their feet in warm water and enjoy a personalised foot massage. The relaxing session provided a calming environment where residents could unwind, chat, or read while receiving gentle care and attention.

One resident received a foot message to help ease any tension or pain, leaving them feeling more comfortable and relaxed. This soothing activity is part of our ongoing commitment to supporting both the physical and emotional wellbeing of those in our care.